Mated to the Alpha: Book #4 in 9 Novellas by Bella Lore

By Bella Lore

From paranormal romance author Bella Lore comes a collection of nine epic novellas, guaranteed to make your heart swoon and your jaw drop.

On the eve of her eighteenth birthday, Bria expects to hear the announcement she’s anticipated for two years: that she will wed Nathaniel, her true love.

But then her Alpha breaks the news—and her heart. Bria will never see Nathaniel again.

Instead, she will be mated to Jeremiah, a wolf outside of the pack.

Jeremiah is strong and handsome, a worthy wolf. But Bria will have to leave her pack, her family, her home, and everything she’s ever known.

Above all, she’ll have to leave Nathaniel.

Can Bria learn to love Jeremiah?

Or will her heart always truly belong to Nathaniel?

Books #5-#9 in the series—MY TRUE ALPHA, PROMISED TO THE ALPHA, THE ALPHA’S BRIDE, THE ALPHA’S DESIRE, and THE LUNA’S CHOICE—are now also available!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bella Lore
• Release date: Aug 26, 2022
• ISBN: 9781094393452

Book preview

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M A T E D   T O   T H E   A L P H A

(Book #4 in 9 Novellas by Bella Lore)

B e l l a   L o r e

Bella Lore

Bella Lore is the paranormal romance author of the MY TRUE MATE series, comprising four books; THE ALPHA’S MATE series, comprising four books; the REJECTED BY THE BETA series, comprising four books; and 9 NOVELLAS BY BELLA LORE, comprising nine books.

Bella loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit bellaloreauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.

Copyright © 2022 by Bella Lore. All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior permission of the author. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Jacket image Copyright Zharinova Marina, used under license from Shutterstock.com.

BOOKS BY BELLA LORE

MY TRUE MATE

MY TRUE MATE (Book #1)

MY TRUE MATE (Book #2)

MY TRUE MATE (Book #3)

MY TRUE MATE (Book #4)

THE ALPHA’S MATE

THE ALPHA’S MATE (Book #1)

THE ALPHA’S MATE (Book #2)

THE ALPHA’S MATE (Book #3)

THE ALPHA’S MATE (Book #4)

REJECTED BY THE BETA

REJECTED BY THE BETA (Book #1)

REJECTED BY THE BETA (Book #2)

REJECTED BY THE BETA (Book #3)

REJECTED BY THE BETA (Book #4)

9 NOVELLAS

BOUND TO THE ALPHA (Book #1)

DESIRED BY THE ALPHA (Book #2)

FALLING FOR THE ROGUE (Book #3)

MATED TO THE ALPHA (Book #4)

MY TRUE ALPHA (Book #5)

PROMISED TO THE ALPHA (Book #6)

THE ALPHA’S BRIDE (Book #7)

THE ALPHA’S DESIRE (Book #8)

THE LUNA’S CHOICE (Book #9)

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

CHAPTER THIRTY

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE

CHAPTER ONE

I am excited as I head across the den to my alpha's cabin.

Yesterday I turned eighteen. That means today, I will be assigned my mate.

I could not be more ready to be married to Nathaniel.

We are in love.

We have been together since we were sixteen.

I knock on the door.

Come in, I hear alpha's voice from the other side.

I open the door and slowly step inside the cabin.

It is cozy inside. Warm. A fire glows.

My alpha looks up from behind his wooden desk.

He is in his human form.

Gray hair. A bushy beard.

I think of my Alpha like a grandfather.

I trust him to do what's right.

For me, for the pack.

Good morning, Alpha, I greet.

Good morning, Bria, he returns.

He gestures for the chair opposite him. Come sit. I have some news I'd like to share with you.

I take a seat.

He hands me a cup of warm tea.

Firstly, let me congratulate you on turning eighteen, he says.

Thank you, Alpha, I reply.

I sip the tea he gave me.

I suppose you already know why I have called you here today, he says.

I believe so, I reply.

I am fizzing with excitement.

Any second now he will tell me what I have waited two years to hear. That Nathaniel and I are to be wed.

I have an important favor I would like to ask of you, Bria, he says.

My heart sinks a little. I can tell by the tone of his voice there is something serious.

I take a deep breath.

What is it, Alpha? I ask.

I understand you are in love with Nathaniel and I know he is in love with you.

I smile. That's right.

You must stop seeing each other.

My stomach drops. What?

He takes a deep breath. I know that might make you feel very sad.

Might? I cry. Might? What have you done? What are you talking about?

I shake my head. It is spinning from shock.

Now, listen to me, he says, more stern. I am your Alpha. What I say must be obeyed. And you two must not be together.

My bottom lip trembles. I feel like I might puke.

But why? I ask. I don't understand, Alpha.

He leans forward and rests his elbows on his desk. He looks deeply into my eyes.

I have made a decision about who you are to marry, he says. Everything is arranged.

I gasp. This is getting worse and worse.

Not only am I not marrying Nathaniel, but I am marrying someone else?

That is not fair, Alpha! It is not fair to Nathaniel or to me.

I know. But it is best for the pack.

The pack? I echo. What about me?

It is for the greater good.

I frown at him. Who is he? This man I am to marry?

He is a very worthy wolf, he says. He will protect you from danger. You will be safe. This marriage will be good for the pack. They will feel safe and secure.

Who is he? I say again.

Alpha leans back in his chair and stares off into the distance. His name is Jeremiah.

My heart pounds.

What? I question. Jeremiah? There are no males called Jeremiah in this pack.

Then it dawns on me.

He is not of this pack.

I am to be married out of the pack.

Away from my family.

From Nathaniel.

Not only am I losing my love, I am losing my family and my home.

I stare at Alpha in disbelief. I feel like my heart is breaking into a thousand pieces.

You...you have arranged to send me away? I ask, my voice pained.

Yes. To the alpha of a neighboring pack.

But... but my home, I say, biting my lip. My family! My friends! You expect me to leave everything behind? For the good of the pack?

You do not understand, he says. I also made this decision for your own good.

No! No you did not! You made it for yourself!

Those are harsh words, he says, sharply. Then he softens. I know you are fond of Nathaniel, but we must think of the pack first.

A tear slips down my cheek.

I feel sick.

Panicky.

I am not going to marry Jeremiah, I say, standing up from the chair. I do not want to marry him. I love my Nathaniel. And I will not leave him.

I feel so angry and lost.

It feels like the floor is shifting beneath my feet.

I feel like I am spinning out of control.

I feel like life as I know it is over.

You will not take that tone with me, Bria, Alpha says.

I don't care. You cannot do this.

I already have, Bria. Please try to understand. I am old. I have made many decisions in my time. Many have been hard. But every one has been right. I have never made a bad decision. I have never taken a wrong turn. Everything I have done has been for the good of the pack.

I push my chair back and stand.

You are a dictator! I cry. A tyrant!

I turn and head for the door.

I cannot stop the tears from rolling down my cheeks.

I know I have gone too far. But I feel like I have no choice.

I am angry and afraid.

I want to be with Nathaniel.

I love him.

Bria! Alpha calls after me.

I stop and look back at Alpha.

I'm sorry, he says. I know I am asking much of you. I know this might seem cruel. But it is for your own good. You will see that one day. One day you will understand.

Tears of anger stream down my cheeks.

I can't marry Jeremiah, I whisper. I won't.

I have always admired how headstrong you are, girl, Alpha says. But do not be stubborn.

I stare at him.

I am hurt.

He is my Alpha.

But right now I do not feel protected in his presence.

I feel betrayed.

I turn and leave.

CHAPTER TWO

I run home and burst through the door.

I cannot believe what I have just heard.

Father emerges from the kitchen.

He looks at me expectantly.

He is smiling.

He is expecting me to announce my engagement to Nathaniel.

How did it go? he asks.

I shake my head.

I am not marrying Nathaniel, I blurt out.

His mouth drops open. His face falls.

What? he says.

I stare at the floor.

He has arranged for me to marry someone else, I say angrily.

Who? he asks.

Jeremiah.

There is no wolf called Jeremiah, he says, frowning.

He is the Alpha of a neighboring pack.

What? Father says, his eyes wide. His mouth is open. He is clearly shocked. That's absurd.

I know.

But...but why?

I pause. I feel guilty. I know Father loves me. I know he loves Alpha. And I don't want to hurt him.

A part of me wants to keep my mouth shut.